Global Director, Hardware and Systems Engineering

Hayward Holdings, Inc.; North Kingstown (RI); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading swimming pool equipment manufacturer is seeking a Director of Hardware Platform Development to lead the strategy, design, and execution of electronic and mechanical platforms. Located in North Kingstown, RI, the ideal candidate has 10-15 years of experience in product development and a strong track record of leading engineering teams. Responsibilities include fostering innovation, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring alignment with business goals. This role offers the opportunity to impact the growth of the company in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of experience in electronic and multi-physics product development.
• 5+ years of experience leading engineering teams.
• Knowledge of embedded systems and PCB layout.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the development strategy for electronic platforms.
• Recruit and mentor a team of engineers.
• Improve workflow efficiency across engineering teams.
• Drive continuous improvements in development predictability.

Skills

Team leadership

Electronic systems design

Project management

Interpersonal communication

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic/Electrical Engineering

Job description

Overview

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE HAYW) is the largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment in the world, with a significant presence in the commercial pool market that is continuously growing. Hayward designs, manufactures, and markets a full line of residential and commercial pool and spa equipment including pumps, filters, heating, cleaners, salt chlorinators, automation, lighting, safety, flow control, and energy solutions at our company-owned facilities. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward also has facilities in Tennessee, Arizona, and Rhode Island as well as Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.

Based in our North Kingstown, RI facility, and reporting to the Senior Director of Engineering, the Director of Hardware Platform Development is a leadership position responsible for the strategy, design, and execution of electronic and mechanical platforms, ensuring they meet business goals and technical requirements, while also managing the team and fostering innovation. You will bridge the gap between executive business goals and technical execution, driving innovation from concept to mass production. The ideal candidate is a seasoned engineering leader with deep technical expertise, a strong track record of building and mentoring high-performing teams, and a passion for creating robust, modern platforms that drive business growth.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
  • Own and evolve global hardware/mechanical platform development strategy, aligning with the company’s overall goals
  • Establish clear development frameworks that support scalable and predictable execution across internal and external global development partners (DM/CM)
  • Ensure electronics and systems platforms meet performance, cost, manufacturability, and lifecycle goals
  • Drive PCBA and electronics cost management and ownership into the design process
  • Lead deployment of digital twin capabilities into active programs, ensuring simulation is used to inform design decisions, reduce prototyping cycles, and improve first-pass success
  • Own and optimize internal design capabilities with external partners (ODM/CM) to scale engineering output and execution efficiency
• Team Management:
  • Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of electronics and mechanical engineers (EE + ME), fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment
  • Drive clear priorities, ownership, and expectations across engineering efforts; manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively
  • Provide technical guidance and support to team members
  • Partner with Software, PMO, and Product leaders to ensure alignment on deliverables and process
• Engineering Execution and Delivery:
  • Define and refine how engineering work progresses from concept through release
  • Establish clear milestones, decision points, and success criteria for the teams
  • Partner with PMO to ensure effective program visibility, clarity and coordination
  • Improve workflow efficiency and reduce friction across engineering and cross-functional teams
  • Drive continuous improvements in development predictability and time-to-market
• Platform Development:
  • Own end-to-end development of hardware and mechanical platforms, from concept to production
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., software, product management, Regulatory, ODM partners, manufacturing, etc.) to define requirements and specifications
  • Take part in design reviews and design failure mode analysis (DFMEA)
  • Ensure hardware and mechanical designs meet quality, reliability, and compliance standards
• Other Responsibilities:
  • Oversee the Sustaining & Value Engineering teams responsible for the continuous improvement and ongoing production of existing products
  • Ensure all deliverables are consistent with the Quality System, Regulatory and Agency submissions
  • Establish clear prioritization and coordination across teams and balance sustaining activities with new product engineering

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electronic/Electrical Engineering, or a related field
• 10-15+ years of progressive experience in electronic and multi-physics product development environment
• 5+ years of proven success leading engineering teams and workflows
• Strong knowledge of board and chip level design, circuit simulation, PCB layout, and embedded systems
• Experience in electronics integration and packaging, including thermal management of electronics enclosures and wiring and interconnect systems
• Proven ability to manage teams, mentor engineers, clarify ownership and drive technical projects to completion
• Strong interpersonal, communication and analytical skills; expert at delivering technical subject matter presentations to non-technical staff and executives

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in high volume electro-mechanical product design in the consumer or industrial markets
• Deep understanding of electronics hardware, electromechanical integration, thermal design principals
• Experience serving as technical leadership on cross-functional teams
• Knowledge of product development process tools and analysis methods
• Background in the gated development process